Real Takk Podcast

Episode 27: Ari Afshar, TOP Broker in LA, Discussing The Luxury RE Market Amid the COVID19 Crises, & Being an Industry Leader

Ari Afshar joins the Real Takk Podcast to discuss his current life amid the COVID19 Crises, the state of the luxury LA Real Estate Market, where prices have fluctuated before & after, how he's spending his time, how he recruits, manages, and his psychology behind operating a 20+ top producing team in LA. 
Ari the Founding agent in LA.  A native of Beverly Hills he co-founded his own agency in 2008 focusing on the distressed property market. After negotiating thousands of notes with lenders, Ari was selected as one of 8 real estate agents nationwide on Bank of America’s Realtor® Roundtable.   He’s also succeeded as the Founder and CEO of multiple social media marketing, real estate web development and mobile app building companies.  Since 2014, Ari has been involved in hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate deals. Ari’s been featured in Forbes, LA Times, yahoo entertainment, Curbed LA, Architectural Digest, & the real deal.
Please follow on IG at @ariafsharandassociates as well as his website: https://www.ariafshar.com/AriAfshar

Episode 26: Jillian Adler, Top Broker in Boston Proper in Doing Business & Closing Deals During COVID 19

Jillian joins The Real Takk Podcast to discuss how she's been closing deals amid the COVID19 crises!  She's been working in Massachusetts Real Estate since 2009, and brings to extensive experience in Boston’s real estate and development markets with over $175M in sales volume since 2012, as part of the Kopman Adler team.
Even in the state of the pandemic we’re in, Jillian’s sold 5 homes between South end, Brookline, & Jamaica Plain, while also collaborating with @americanprovisions & brought 80 lunches to the medical staff at Boston Children’s hospital.
Some fun facts of Jillian: Received B.A. from the University of Massachusetts of Amherst & also ran the Boston Marathon in 2019 to support of the YMCA. She provides a wealth of knowledge to listeners on how to be successful during the mandated 'stay at home warning'.
Follow her on @jillianleigh21 on Instagram, & her properties on https://www.compass.com/agents/jillian-adler/

Episode 25: The State of the Restaurant Industry with Matthew Focht, CEO of Emerging, & Andy Rosenbloom, VP of Marketing for Buyers Edge Platform

Learn, adapt & adjust.  The Restaurant Industry is in a state of emergency right now.  I’m joined by the CEO of Emerging, Matthew Focht & the VP of Marketing for Buyers Edge Platform Andy Rosenbloom.   They’re here to discuss how the COVID19 Crises is affecting our beloved restaurant industry on a national level. 
 
About Emerging: EMERGING optimizes restaurant and entertainment concepts for sustainable growth and profitability. emerging.com
About Buyers Edge Platform:  The Buyers Edge Platform, launched by Foodservice GPO entrepreneur and CEO John Davie, offers contracts, technology, data services and expertise to Manufacturers, Consultants, Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), and Operators of all sizes.
The Buyers Edge Platform: Launched by Foodservice GPO entrepreneur and CEO John Davie, offers contracts, technology, data services and expertise to Manufacturers, Consultants, Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs), and Operators of all sizes.
You may follow Andy on Instagram at: @BoweryBleeckerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-rosenbloom/ 
& Matthew on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-d-focht-89bb88b/
 

Episode 24: What's Happening Right Now in The Chicago Market Amid The Covid 19 Crises with Top Agent, Lauren Mitrick Wood

Lauren jumps on the Real Takk Podcast to discuss what's been happening in the Chicago real estate market amid the COVID19 crises.  Lauren is the Founder of Compass Chicago with almost 20 years of experience working with buyers, sellers, investors, & landlords in her market.  She delves into how she's navigating today's climate, the ups & downs of working during Chicago's "stay at home" order, and how closings are still taking place amid office closures.  
A Chicago native, Lauren is a third-generation Realtor® who grew up in a real estate family.  Forbes Magazine and NAR selected her as one of their "30 Under 30s" from young professionals across the country. She was also named by Chicago Agent Magazine as one of their "Who's Who in Chicago Real Estate" in 2008, 2010, and 2018.  Lauren is a bright mind & a skilled broker.  She generously shares her knowledge & insight in how to navigate & survive today's market.  Follow her on IG at @LMitrickwood & her team @olive.well.  Find her on FB @ Lauren Mitrick Wood.  Thank you for listening! 

Episode 23: Rob Lehman, Chief Business Officer of Compass

Excited to announce Compass CBO (Chief Business Officer) Rob Lehman jumping on the Real Takk Podcast to discuss all things real estate, the current environment of the brokerage business, how COVID19 is affecting our outlook for 2020, how we're shifting & gearing up in the future, & advice he has for small business, brokers, & brokerages.  
Rob Lehman joined Compass as one of its first 30 employees and has been promoted several times to now hold the title of Chief Business Officer. Today, Lehman runs all expansion, sales, M&A and strategy for Compass.  Under Lehman's leadership, he's helped raised our newest round of $370 million in a Series G round that takes our valuation to $6.4 billion 
Rob has been named one of Forbes 30 Under 30, was ranked #27 on the T360 list of the 200 most influential people in residential real estate, and graduated summa cum laude from Duke University.
Outside of work, Rob is an accomplished golfer, soccer player, table tennis athlete, & generally a jack of all trades. Give this one a listen! 
 
 

Episode 22: Dr. Julien Dagenais on COVID 19 Affects, Being a First Time Home Buyer in this market

I'm pleased to have Surgeon Dr, Julien Dagenais MD join us on The Real Takk Podcast.  Julien chips in on his thoughts on the virus, the effects on his business, and what it's like being a first time home buyer in this market.  You may follow Julien on IG at @d0n.julio & Facebook Julien Dagenais.  

Episode 21: Leonard Steinberg on Proposed Rental Broker Fee Ban & His Trip to The New York Supreme Court in Albany County

In this episode, we have our Chief Evangelist of Compass join in on my show to discuss the State Legislature's proposed new law of banning tenants from paying the broker fee for rental properties in NYC.  He is a proponent of the brokerage community and an influential voice in our field. Here are his takeaways about his day written from his daily contemplations: 
1.  You have to show up. Whining and complaining about politics is useless. Sometimes you must roll up your sleeves and get involved and make an effort. Take the time needed to get involved and have an impact. 
2.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease: without fail, every politician said they listen and hear the loudest, most consistent voices most.
3.  You have to be looking out for the greater good.  Yes, some special-interest lobbyists succeed to cater to their own hyper-localized issues, but politicians care most about pleasing the majority of voters.
4.   Rehearse your message and be CLEAR about what you want, and ASK how the politicians plan to address your concerns.
5.  Make your concerns public. A letter is easily filed or thrown away. As is an e-mail. A TWEET or social media post tagging specific politicians is PUBLIC. You cannot ignore that as easily.
6.  Numbers count. A handful of people's voices matter. Several hundred or thousand voices will get REAL attention. And action.
7.  Politicians are BRILLIANT at making you feel like you've been heard, that they REALLY CARE. Don't rely on words and promises.
8.  Don't rely on 'others' to speak on your behalf. Most times they have other interests at heart.
9.  Politicians listen closest to their constituents. They want to succeed and be re-elected.
10. We hired a lobbyist. I abhorred lobbyists until yesterday: without this lobbyist, we would never have been able to as effectively identify whom to meet with and how. This lobbyist acted like a great agent and we all know how important a good agent is!
As a result, the New York State Justice Mackey temporarily blocked the state’s week-old ruling that had effectively barred tenants from having to pay a broker fee, issuing at least a short-term reprieve to an industry scrambling to respond  The decision was expected to stay in place until at least March 13, when Justice Mackey has asked the Department of State to respond in court. However, this restraining order does not necessarily foreshadow that the broker fee ruling will be blocked for good.
 
If you're interested in real estate news & politics, this is certainly an episode for you! Thank you for subscribing & listening! 
 

Episode 20: An Interview with Lindsay Rothman of Why Westchester Compass

Pleased to have Lindsay Rothman (@lindsay_rothman) join us today on The Real Takkk Podcast.  Lindsay hails from Mt Kisko Westchester (NY).   She joins me to discuss her childhood, the early struggles in life, and how she became one of the top agents in Westchester, closing over $29 Million in transactions in 2019 & how she’s grown her business to date.  Lindsay obtained her Bachelors at Sony Onianta, and obtained her Masters Degree from Mercy College.  Lindsay is wife to Tim Rothman and her 2 kids Dillon & Cecilia.  She is a resident of Dobs Ferry Westchester.  This episode & all other episodes are available by searching “Real Takk” on Spotify, Apple Podcast, & Podbean.  Thank you for listening!

Episode 19: Emergency POD! New Rental Law Changes: Landlords, not tenants, must pay rental broker fees: state

We delve into this last minute, an unexpected addendum to the rental law regulation issued by the Department of State this week, where they reversed the tenant-pays-broker-fee system that’s been the norm in rental transactions in New York City.
The guidance is based on the DOS’ interpretation of the rent law passed last June, and notes that agents working for landlords will be penalized if tenants pay their broker fees.
One of the lawmakers who sponsored the rent law, State Sen. Julia Salazar, said in a statement that “our intent is to eliminate barriers that currently prevent low-income and vulnerable people from obtaining housing.”
My cohost Danielle Stout & I discuss the impacts of this in today's market, and we are also joined by our guest speaker Justin Rubinstein of Compass.  

Episode 18: Adam Leitman Bailey, Top NY Attorney

One of my favorite quotes from Kobe Bryant: "How can your story impact others? The definition of greatness is to inspire people next to you.  How can you inspire one person then turn to inspire another person. Our challenge is for people, to figure out how our story can impact others, to motivate them to create greatness in others. - Kobe Bryant.  Adam Leitman Bailey may have a brash facade, he's been written up in the NY Post, NY Times, & Huffington Post, perhaps not always as a hero, but to play on the team he's hired to protect.  Adam's story may inspire a few of you, as we dive into his younger years of his rough childhood, being a passenger of a terrible car accident, the growing pains he's faced as a young adult. We then go into present date, where he shares his tremendous success story of suing Donald & Ivanka Trump, & representing Linda Mackelowe in the most expensive divorce case in US history. Our listeners will a sense of how he's built a firm that has experienced systemic success over the course of the last two decades.  This is a great one and definitely worth a listen!  (read about his bio below)  
 
Bio: 
Adam is one of the most distinguished real estate attorneys in America.  Born in Bayside Queens, he moved to California at the age of five, and later moved back to NJ where he graduated with honors from Rutgers, then obtained his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law.  Adam is an author of NYT’s best seller Finding The Uncommon Deal.”, he was selected by the Chambers & Partners publication as NY’s leading RE lawyers, and was named Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine.   Adam has a long list of notable cases, but to mention a few he’s represented Developer Sharif El Gamal, who proposed an Islamic mosque & cultural center near the ground zero site, where his opponents were the families affected by 9/11, politicians, and conservative media pundits. (long story short it turned into 45 park place. Adam was responsible for obtaining the largest residential condo settlement in the history of NY, as well as  successfully relieved purchasers from new developments like 20 pine, The Brompton, Trump Soho & Sky View Park.